ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Indian Education Newsletter
Navajo Language
More APS Native American Students Participating
In Navajo Language Classes
Mission
By working
together with
schools, parents,
and communities,
APS Indian
Education
Department will
develop enhanced
and supportive
Indigenous
educational
opportunities
for All American
Indian/ Alaska
Native students
by increasing
knowledge of
Native values
through teaching
language
and cultural
differences.
Three years ago the Indian Education Department
began offering it’s Navajo Language classes at two
high schools in the Albuquerque Public Schools. Since
the beginning of our program students from 10 high
schools are now attending Navajo Language I, II, and
III from Teachers, Ms. Mildred Chiquito and Mr. Paul
Phillips. The classes are taught at West Mesa High
(WMHS) School and at Albuquerque High School/
Career Enrichment Center (AHS/CEC).
Ms. Chiquito says students in her beginning classes
are learning the basics of the Navajo sound system
and are able identify: diagraphs, diphthongs and
symbols that make the Navajo sound of the alphabet.
They are working on a weaving project related to the
Native American spiritual value of “Belonging.” In
this project, students are using colors that represent
themselves or family members.
In Ms. Chiquito’s Navajo Language class, two students
are working on: comprehending Navajo Stories, writing
a short story, related to their personal experiences and
Native Foods they have enjoyed. In another project,
students are building Hogan structures as a way to
personalize their stories.
Ms. Chiquito’s program recently participated with other
foreign language classes at West Mesa in a collaborative
event that involved students from: Navajo, Spanish,
Italian and French classes. The students drew names
and created holiday cards in their respective languages
and presented the cards during a joint classroom
exercise as a way to build appreciation of other cultures
from around the world.
Mr. Phillips’ students taking Navajo Language classes
at the Albuquerque High School/Career Enrichment
Center recently offered these comments about their
classroom experiences.
Christon Manuelito, a sophomore at Volcano Vista
HS says;
“For years as a child I have heard my family talk in
Navajo and I had no clue what they were saying. My
great grandmother spoke mostly Navajo and when
she talked to me I would wait for someone to translate
what she said to me. For me, learning Navajo has
already helped me get closer to my family. One time
my father said something to my sister and she asked
me to translate for her. “
Indian Education Department
Ph: 505.884.6392
January 2013
Volume 4, Issue 2
Shayla Hanley says;
“I am a sophomore at Volcano Vista HS who attends
Navajo language class at CEC. The Navajo class is very
helpful to my fellow students. Hastiin (Mr.) Phillips is
a great teacher and is very helpful. He helps us speak,
write, and read our language. We also learn about;
The lives of a traditional family and the roles for each
member in the family. We learned about our clans and
how to introduce ourselves or someone else. I think
this is a great class to take and to experience.”
Tamara Begay, a senior at Eldorado HS, says;
“The Navajo language class at CEC has brought me
closer to my culture. I not only learned the language,
but the Navajo culture is taught as well. The smaller
classes have given students a better chance to learn
the language with more direct instruction. My
Navajo vocabulary has been expanded, as well as, my
knowledge of the Navajo culture, the use of the Rosetta
Stone program has helped tremendously.”
Christon, Tamara, and Shayla have participated in
reading the “Coyote and Lizard” story in Navajo during
the AHS Native American culture night on December
5, 2012. This was the first Navajo Coyote Storytelling
event for the Navajo language class at AHS/CEC and the
Indian Education Department (IED). Congratulations
to the three students and others for their participation
of traditional storytelling in the Navajo language.
Submitted by: Mildred Chiquito, Navajo Language
Teacher WMHS, and Paul D. Phillips, Navajo Language
Teacher CEC
West Mesa High School Navajo Language students
Christon Manuelito CEC Navajo Language student
F: 505-872-8849
www.aps.edu/indian-education
Indian Education Newsletter
“Motivate, Educate, Graduate”
Highland High School - Home of the Hornets
Greetings from Highland High School, Home of the Hornets:
Another year has begun with new staff, new space, and a group of enthusiastic
new students. The new staff is resource teacher, Margery Buckner who has
been on the move the last two years within APS Indian Education, from
Cleveland Middle School/Del Norte High School to Highland High School.
The new room is room 222, in the main building on the second floor. New
Native American students are arriving every day to add to the great students
already here.
HHS Native Students Are Involved – Native HHS students are involved this
year. Miranda Lee, Miss Native HHS, is editor-in-chief of the newspaper,
Highland Highlight, plays on the volleyball and softball teams and is a section
leader for the Marching Band to name a few of her activities. She has also
been an organizer of this year’s Native Leadership team. We have various
Native students on the football team, cheerleading squad, boys’ and girls’
basketball teams, ROTC, guitar performers and involved in many other clubs
and organizations. HHS Chief Dru Martinez has been busy with his own dance
group. They have been traveling to perform in distant cities and states. Native
Hornets are on the move!
Community Dinner – On August 18, we hosted a Community Potluck
and found more “star performers” for HHS. About 50 people attended and
enjoyed the food, and the entertainment. Mr. Scott Elder, HHS principal,
welcomed visitors while Miss Native HHS and MC Miranda Lee kept the
program going. HHS graduate and traditional singer extraordinaire, Vernell
Sandoval sang original Navajo songs and his sister and current HHS student,
Verlonda Sandoval presented the Navajo Ribbon Dance. Shelaine Johnson,
Lavonnia Barbone and Jerica Yanito presented the Plains Fancy Shawl dance.
Jon Ghahate, HHS teacher, provided the music and door prizes. We have plans
for a second potluck dinner in March so watch for our announcements.
HHS Multicultural Assembly – Dru Martinez organized and choreographed a
modern hip-hop dance routine using Native-influenced music for the annual
Multicultural Assembly. It was well received by students, staff and visitors. Dru
was a task-master from start to finish: signing up to perform, finding dancers,
setting up practice times at lunch and after school, teaching the routine and
just making sure everyone was ready. Congratulations to Dru and his HHS
group! We expect more great student performances under his direction!
New to HHS, Not to APS – Mrs. Buckner is the new resource teacher at
Highland High School but began her career in 1978 as an English teacher at
Valley High School. In addition to Valley High School, she has been a teacher
at Manzano High School, Taylor Middle School, Jimmy Carter Middle School,
Cleveland Middle School and Del Norte High School. She has also been a part
of APS Indian Education as a Home-School Liaison at North Area Office and
a tutor and educational assistant. She graduated from Manzano High School
and the University of New Mexico with a BA in English and Political Science.
She returned to UNM to receive her teaching credentials and the rest is history.
Mrs. Buckner is an APS product having attended APS schools from first
through twelfth grades. She also can name all her elementary teachers. She
and her husband of 38 years, Jerry, have two grown daughters who also are
APS products and La Cueva HS graduates. Mrs. Buckner is from four tribes:
Southern Cheyenne-Arapaho, Navajo, and Santee Sioux. She looks forward to
meeting all Native students and their parents throughout the course of this
school year, so stop by Room 222 (like the tv show of yesteryear) and say hello.
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January 2013
Jimmy Carter Middle School
Indian Education Program
Though I have only been working as the Native Studies Teacher at Jimmy
Carter Middle School for a couple months now, I feel like I have known my
students for years. Keeping the Indigenous values that the class is studying
in mind, it seems that the sense of belonging within the classes and the
group as a whole has increased immensely since the beginning of the
year. We have been incorporating all of the Indigenous Values: belonging,
generosity, independence, and mastery into our lessons. I can see these
qualities improving within my students. I look forward to seeing the
fruition of their efforts at the end of the year.
In class we have recently wrapped up a unit about the relationship between
the Apache Indian Tribe and horses. The students dived into research
on this topic for a fi ve paragraph essay. I supported their work for the
essay with lessons that included KWL charts (what you know, want to
know, and what you learned), Cornell note-taking, and computer website
research. In order to further support their writing skill progression I have a
daily journal question or prompt that they need to respond to with a five
sentence paragraph. The simple act of constant practice will improve their
writing ability. The journals entries all with other writings will be used to
aid their spelling through a program in which students test themselves on
words they actually use and need improvement on. This process gives them
insight into their own learning while also aiding their want to improve
themselves by seeking new knowledge. The class also has started to do
the Flash Spelling computer program which follows their personal progress.
It seems the students enjoy this activity and look forward to increase it
heavily within coming weeks.
Many of the students wonder why math is on the agenda in Native Studies.
It just so happens to be an integral part of the program. We have been
focusing on multiplication facts and a constant repetition to help them to
internalize them. I help to reinforce their math skills with other learning
activities related to the Native Unit we are working on as well. Soon students
will be engaging in a Math in a Flash computer program. Enhancing
students’ basic skills will only help to improve performance in other classes.
My students’ success and confidence in their abilities is my ultimate goal for
them. I have been lucky enough to receive on-going training in Carnegie
Math. It has been a great mind-bending experience with a whole new way
to look at math which I have really enjoyed. I look forward to bringing that
same enjoyment into the classroom.
This month we are immersing ourselves in the art of Native American
Storytelling and its importance in maintaining a culture of people. One
aspect of this we are focusing on is the Cosmos. Students recently engaged
in a project where they used their own Tribal flag as a template to create
their own personalized tribal flag. I enjoyed seeing the students pour their
creativity and selves into this work. Some added personal touches such as
musical interests and original poetry. Coming from a fine arts background
myself I have to say I was impressed with some of the talent I saw. Another
focus of the class for the next couple of months is something I like to call
Native Americans Now! I have been showcasing several admirable people
from different Native Tribes that students can look up to. I intend to
highlight people in many different areas of talent (such as musician, actors,
artists, politicians, scientists, community leaders, etc). They will eventually
use this knowledge for a big project in which they will pick a specific person
to research because they look up to them. I think this is going to be an eyeopening experience for them to think about whom they are and who they
want to become (and can)!
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Indian Education Newsletter
Chaparral Elementary
Students in Indian Education Literacy classes at Chaparral Elementary
started the school year by setting personal goals to achieve higher
District Benchmark Assessment scores in an effort to meet grade level
academic expentations in Reading and Math through incorporating the
values of Belonging and Independence into daily routines and habits.
As the semester progressed, not only did they build camaraderic, their
classroom became a safe and comfortable evironment in which they
shared knowledge and skills. They also supported one another through
academic lessons and activities as a group and as partners. They came
to school prepared to learn and redy to participate fully in class and for
every productive class time they earned letters spelling “belonging”.
When all students in each grade earned all letters, celebration was in
order. They learned that being perseverant in practicing these important
values often resulted in building reading stamina and concentration
but also promoted better assessment scores.
Recently the fifth graders celebrated their first semester achievement of
reaching proficiency in either Reading or Math. They enjoyed sharing
snacks and activities. Together they have accomplished goals which,
individually, seemed daunting and they are set to achieve even more
during the second semester.
Lucy Platero, Resource Teacher.
College and Career
Readiness Specialist (Grades 6-8)
need my support. I will also
make contact with the parents
of those students.
My name is Maria Acosta; I
am the new College & Career
Readiness Specialist in the
Indian Education Department
with the Albuquerque Public
School district. I am not new
to APS, as I’ve had 6 years of
experience in APS working with
middle schools. Since coming
onboard I’ve already had an
opportunity to make contact
with most of the middle schools
in the school district and now
I’m working on identifying the
students in those schools who
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My focus for this school year,
2012-2013, are grades 6th, 7th,
and 8th. During my visits to
schools, my support assistance
to students include: working
on academic tracks towards
high school credits, helping
choose classes for high school;
mentoring and helping make
a successful transition to high
school, focus on academic
success in math and reading,
and coordination of the city
sponsored annual event, School
to Work.
I look forward to meeting with
students and the parents I’m
excited for a successful school
year with the Indian Education
Department. Please feel free to
contact me at email: acosta_
[email protected] and phone: 8846392 ext. 80443.
Classroom Values chart used by Indian Education
Literacy class students to support academic progress.
January 2013
E.G. Ross Elementary School
Our Indian Education students at Edmund G. Ross Elementary
School engage in activities that develop the skills and
knowledge they need to be able to compete successfully in this
ever-changing world. All of these activities are aligned to the
Common Core State Standards. This means that our children
are provided with clear and realistic goals for success, activities
that stimulate higher order thinking, and are expected to
demonstrate mastery of not only the set educational goals for
their respective grade levels, but the application of the Native
American Values also known as the Circle of Courage.
During our weekly Native American Studies, students have
been reading different Native American books at varying
instructional levels relative to the theme, “Community”. After
reading these books, they are expected to be able to articulate
the value of learning from their elders; why it is important to
participate and learn about their role within their respective
communities; why it is important to demonstrate responsibility
within their communities; why it is necessary for people to learn
from their ancestors and from each other; and why consider
all aspects of a community when making important decisions
and changes. Also, students show their understanding of the
concepts surrounding the theme “Community” using varied
strategies that they learn along the way, such as the use of
graphic organizers (T charts, 3-4 column charts), use of pictures
and illustrations, the use of technology during Expert Groups
presentations, and citing pieces of textual evidence to support
their analysis of what the text says explicitly or the inferences
they have drawn from the text.
In Reading and Math, our students focus on the skills that
they need to master or exceed their grade level standards
before the end of the school year by engaging themselves in
targeted intervention lessons. These intervention programs are
curricular methodologies that integrate various modalities of
literacy instruction. Assessment based planning is at the core of
these programs. This approach is characterized by explicit skill
instruction and the use of authentic texts that adhere firmly to
the Common Core State Standards. Through various modalities,
we are implementing a well planned comprehensive Indigenous
Curriculum and Reading/Math literacy programs that reflect a
gradual release of control, whereby responsibility is gradually
shifted to the students. Some of these activities may make our
students feel uncomfortable as they are encouraged to do a lot
of the thinking, discovery, inferring, and researching.
With that said, I would like to let you, our parents, know that I
need your unfaltering support as we help our children overcome
the roadblocks that come they way. With you, everything is
possible. Our children CAN and WILL SUCCEED!
Walter Cabutaje, Resource Teacher
Kindergarten students, Isabella Velarde and Lucas DeAngelo, Rock and Rollin’ to the tune of “The Number Rock” (left). They use numbered
footprints and handprints to create their Thanksgiving Turkey (middle picture) and to demonstrate mastery of their numerals 1-20, colors, and
letters. Right photo, showing their Number Puzzle outputs with great pride!
FUTURE SCIENTISTS: Fourth Graders (left to right) Morgan Tomlinson, Ira Karty, and Reece Mcneal effectively utilize technology as they
present their observations from the Class Nature Walk.
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Indian Education Department
P.O. Box 25704
Albuquerque NM, 87125
Phone: 505.884.6392
Fax: 505.872.8849
Web: http://www.aps.edu
IED Career Readiness
Our College and Career Readiness Program is off to a great start this
year! My name is Shannon Romero, I am from the pueblos of Cochiti,
Santo Domingo and also the Navajo Nation. I am the College and Career
Readiness Specialist at the Indian Education Department for grades
11 and 12. These photos were taken at our West Mesa presentation,
where we talked with 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade Native American
High School students about Higher Education and Programs that
are available to them to help them attain higher education. At our
presentation I invite other programs to come and present to the
students, we have College Horizons a summer College Prep Program
for Native American/Alaskan Native and Hawaiian Natives, Institute
of American Indian Arts talks about dual credit, UNM Indian Student
Services talks about bridge program, and Gate Millennium talks about
how to be a scholarship recipient. We have done presentations at
West Mesa, Del Norte, Eldorado, Atrisco Heritage, Highland, Sandia,
La Cueva, Volcano Vista, and New Futures. That is a total of 135
seniors that the Indian Education Department has reached out to in
about 2 weeks. We are now is the process of setting up presentations at
all High Schools in APS. Like Mrs. Thompson said “Our Destination is
Graduation”! Good Luck to all the 2013 Graduates!
Shannon Romero
College Career Readiness Specialist
APS, Indian Education Department
tSPNFSP@TIBO!BQTFEV
Indian Education Department
Ph: 505.884.6392
F: 505-872-8849
www.aps.edu/indian-education